Critical Summary #3: First Nations Perspectives In Chapter eight of Byron Williston’s Environmental Ethics for Canadians First Nation’s perspectives are explored. The case study titled “Language, Land and the Residential Schools” begins by speaking of a public apology from former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He apologizes for the treatment of “Indians” in “Indian Residential Schools”. He highlights the initial agenda of these schools as he says that the “school system [was] to remove and isolate [Aboriginal] children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them[…]” (Williston 244).
Introduction: Aboriginal people prefer the term ‘social and emotional wellbeing’ rather than ‘mental health’ as it reflects the positive approach to healthcare (Garvey, 2008). The term social and emotional wellbeing has been used interchangeably with mental health and mental illness (Australian indigenous health info net, 2017). Social and emotional wellbeing helps to focus on the overall situation of the person along with health, culture, family, and community (Garvey, 2008). Furthermore, this essay will elaborate on the Aboriginal medical services and their alignment with the principle of the primary health care outlined by World health organization. It will also explain how the Aboriginal community controlled health services apply the aspects
Ever since the first settlers arrived in Australia right up to the end of the 20th century indigenous Australians had limited rights compared to whit Australians. One of the biggest problems was that there were different laws and treatment of aboriginals depending on what state they resided in. The year of 1967 was a big year for indigenous rights as a referendum was held to give the federal government the power to make laws for all aboriginals. Many factors and events influenced the overwhelming success of 1967 Referendum but the Freedom Rides of 1965 was the most important of these events in making the referendum the most successful in Australia’s history.
It’s Halloween night. Many people are dressed up in all sorts of unique, eye catching costumes. However, there are people dressed in big native headdresses, as China dolls, Egyptian Gods and Sugar skulls. It may not seem like a big deal, but all of these ‘costumes’ belong to different cultures, and each have their own historically significant story. No matter how important it is to support other cultures, the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation still exists.
In order to develop a child’s identity in accordance with both the EYLF and an Aboriginal perspective whilst also supporting children’s awareness of Aboriginal cultures and practices through a curriculum that supports children in learning about the land, earth, plants and animals, it is also important how we as educators will support this knowledge to grow (McKnight, et al., 2010). According to Harrison (2010), Aboriginal history plays a key role not only with Aboriginal children but also with non-Aboriginal children and the importance that everyone should learn about the importance of Aboriginal history. As well as educators developing a curriculum that incorporates the Aboriginal community in their area so as to include local histories, local
11612349 Matthew A. Bishay S-IKC100_201660_D_D (Indigenous Health) 19 September 2016 1218 words Its time to address the indisputable relationship between the enduring impact of colonisation and current health status of Indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander people . Throughout the paper key points will be addressed about that will show how the past of Indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander people is still affecting to this very day.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have the oldest surviving cultural history in the world, going back 50,000 – 65,000 years. The aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were hunter – gatherers who were well adapted to the land and the environment. Within these indigenous cultures there were hundreds of different languages spoken, therefore each indigenous culture had their own significant cultural and spiritual identity. The British first arrived in Australia in 1770, and labelled the land as ‘Terra Nullius’ (no man’s land). Between 1788 – 1900, it is estimated that the indigenous population of Australia was reduced by 90% due to the introduction of new disease, settler acquisition of indigenous lands, direct and violent conflict with the colonisers (Australians Together, 2016).
The continuing issue of social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, is one that needs to be addressed in order to raise struggling health outcomes that compromise the lives of Aboriginal people. This is underlined by the fact that suicide, in 2014, was found to be the fifth leading cause of death in Indigenous populations, as well as one of the significant factors leading to a high life expectancy gap (ATSISPEP, 2016). It was also found that compared to the non-Indigenous Australian rate of suicide, Aboriginal people were twice more likely to attempt to end their life (Department of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, 2017), which has consequently lead to the creation of policies and recommendations
The impact of ethnic inequality has been detrimental to indigenous Australians, with the consequences of internal colonialism still affecting them today (text). Loss of language and Dreamtime stories have meant that they have had to rebuild their identity and break free from British oppression by banding together to create stronger communities. Indigenous Australians who live in rural areas of Australia have fewer opportunities when it comes to education, employment, healthcare and housing (text pg. 350). These issues can be once again linked back to the systems that are in place within the country, the way the government approaches these issues in regards to indigenous welfare is problematic. In 2015, the Abbott government supported the decision
I enrolled into university after I was done high school. I became the person I wanted to be, given that I had supportive parents, a great education and I took the opportunities that I could. Coincidentally, there was an aboriginal woman that had the same situation as me. However, if I were to drop out of school in grade nine because I ended up in a series of destructive behaviour.
The indigenous people have a long and proud history, including the rich cultural and spiritual traditions. However, many of these traditions have been changed or even disappeared after the arrival of the European settlers. Forced introduction of European culture and values, Aboriginal community, indigenous land being deprived, and the imposition of a period of governance outside the pattern of the beginning of a cycle of social, physical and spiritual destruction. You can see the effects of today. Some of the effects include poverty, poor health, and drug abuse.